Chat: Anders Szalkai

Sweden is currently undergoing a halcyon period in the world of track and field athletics with Stefan Holm and Kajsa Bergqvist leading a slue of high jumpers, Christian Olsson leading the vertical charge, the Kallur sisters combining sprinting and jumping, and Carolina Kluft winning every discipline! Over the past decade Sweden has not faired so well with distance running success, especially at the marathon distance. Olympian Anders Szalkai, with a PR of 2:12, has been a lone soldier and has dominated the marathon distance in his homeland.

Runner's World Online: Swedish marathon runners have been scant over the past decade, is there a Swedish training method? What is the training philosophy?Anders Szalkai: I don't think we have our "own" training method in Sweden, but we have great Track & Field/Running Clubs. Long distance running is a tough sport that requires a long term approach with lots of discipline. There are many other sports here in Sweden that draw away from a limited talent pool. But through all the success at the Swedish track & field, with Kajsa Bergqvist, Christian Olsson, Carolina Kl?ft and the Kallur-sisters there are a lot of young people now starting with T&F and hopefully some of them will try and "get stuck" on running.

Not talking about the elite, Sweden is a good running country with many, well organized, big and small races year. Many casual runners can get help with their training for a race by looking at the training programs on the web (www4.marathon.se). I'm one of the coaches at the site. I have presented a 20-week half-marathon program at different levels. Twenty-five percent of the runners at the half marathon where following that program.

RW: What is your role with Puma?AS: I work with Puma on the running division of their company. I often present their products to the running and the sports stores. This encompasses also working with the staff to ensure the consumers are getting the right product, so I train them in the merchandise we offer. It is a fun job, and through this line of work I have a lot of contact with running and the athletics world. I also, with Puma, work with the Swedish Athletics Association, and in this way we can test the products that are used for the national team on Sweden's elite athletes. My goal, with the company, is to show that Puma is not just about soccer and fashion, but we do have a great running range of running products that can be both fully functional and fashionable as well.

RW: What is the goal in the ING New York Marathon for you?AS: I have seven weeks of good rhythmic training under my belt. Realistically, a run in the 2:20's would be great, but I know New York has a tough course.

RW: What was your last race coming into New York? AS: The world's largest cross country race called, The Lidingoloppet. It is 30-km of hilly trails. I ran1:54 with a goal of running faster, but decided to treat it as a long run for New York instead of an all-out race.

RW: Is it difficult to live and train in a Nordic country?AS: Naturally it can be hard when there is a large snowfall, it freezes over and you get the icy streets. Then I have had to switch to the treadmill and training on an indoor track; though with the banked turns the track plays havoc with the body. Those folks who train to be an elite athlete often go to foreign lands for a training camp in the worst part of the winter. My best year, which was in 2000-2001, I trained the entire winter in Stockholm, but I had good luck with clement winter weather.

For the rest of the year Sweden offers an ideal training situation with many outstanding nature spots to train at with miles of beautiful trails. For example in Stockholm, the capital, you can run from the Center and very quickly be out in the country free of all cars. If you visit Stockholm start your runs behind the city's stadium and you'll see what I mean.

RW: Back to New York. This is your second attempt at the Big Apple's marathon right?AS: Yes. Back in 1994, I came to the start as a 2:16 runner, on the Stockholm course that is both difficult and typically hot as it is run at 2pm in June. So I was ready for a good run. Too bad for me my club, Stockholm Sparvagen (Railways) had failed to arrange a good starting position for me. I had to start with the masses. I could not warm up and I remember standing in the pack as a man behind me urinated on the back of my legs; great! When the cannon sounded I ran like crazy to chase down the elite field; not a good idea as the first mile is all up hill over the bridge! Of course the lactic acid set in to the legs. At halfway I dropped out but standing by the roadside the New York public rallied me to start again. I was not in the mood, but after two minutes of standing by the road side I began running again. The rest of the run was extremely hard mentally to get myself motivated after I had slipped so far down the field. However, as I ran I got into a good rhythm and I started to enjoy myself as I was taking in the fantastic energy of the crowds and enjoying the course, and I finished in 2:21:50, good for 24th place.

RW: Are many runners coming from Sweden for the race?AS: Yes the ING New York City Marathon is a favorite location for Swedish runners. There should be about 400 or show Sweeds here. No elite runners though sadly (some sub elite like me will be there), but there are not so many elite runners in Sweden that concentrate on the marathon distance.

RW: Do you remember much about the course from 1994? AS: If I think back I recall the course was tough and often changing. The last part in Central Park I have ran a few times for nostalgia when visiting the city on holidays.

RW: What is your tactic for the marathon this year? AS: I will take it easy up the bridge to stop that lactic acid from getting me again. Then when I get into Brooklyn I'm hoping to get into a rhythm and relax into a 5:30 mile pace. I don't really feel confident to take it much higher because of the short build-up I have had. The hope is that I will get the same feeling I got twelve years ago and feed off the energy of the amazing crowds.

RW: Last year it was rather humid, is this a worry for you coming from Sweden?AS: The humidity is not a problem, but if it is humid and warm then it can be tough. I have done a few treadmill runs in a little warmer condition as preparation. However there is no point on focusing too much on the something uncontrollable like the weather, let's just be positive and hope we have good weather on the race day.

RW: The most famous Swedish Marathon runner is Kjell-Erik Stahl who has run an amazing amount of times under 2:20, (70 runs under 2.20) is that a goal for you?AS: Wow, I am way behind Kjell, I have ran 21-times under 2:20, and have an average of 2:16:28 for my twenty best performances. Mind you the average for my entire 47-marathons is 2:22:20 including a few marathons that I ran just for fun as a tourist runner.

Kjell-Erik is indeed a legend and had an amazing talent. The year he was fourth in the World Champs I think he had at least ten marathons run between 2:10 to 2:20. Recently Kjell-Erik has stepped down from his job and is now training to set age group records in the men's 60-year-old age division. I hear his goal is to run a sub 2:40 marathon!

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